Associate Dean for Educational Equity

Diversity among students and faculty is a top priority for the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and the Office of Educational Equity takes an active role in promoting respect and embracing diversity in the college.

Victoria Sanchez

News

Author, social justice advocate, and former NBA player Etan Thomas will give a free public lecture from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 15, in 233A HUB-Robeson Center at University Park. Thomas will discuss his latest book, "We Matter: Athletes and Activism," which includes dozens of interviews -- with people like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Mark Cuban, and Soledad O'Brien -- on the subject of race in America.

In the middle of a Category 1 hurricane in Cape Verde, off the coast of Africa, Aara'L Yarber discovered her passion for meteorology. Coming from Los Angeles, California, she had never experienced a hurricane before.

Gregory Jenkins' interest in meteorology and the environment can be traced back to his own childhood when he would find himself in the library, deciphering weather books or at home watching forecasts on television and wondering why they weren't correct. Now, his work at Penn State in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences brings together his fascination with meteorology, his goal of inspiring and encouraging his students, and his ambition of having a positive impact on underserved areas.

Penn State geosciences alumnus Enrique Perez received tremendous financial support and advice throughout his life, which paved the way for career success. Now, he's giving back in many ways to provide similar opportunities to other students.

Penn State's Millennium Scholars program was designed to increase diversity in STEM fields. The highly selective program provides training to high-achieving, high-performing undergraduate students who plan to pursue a Ph.D. and who have committed to increasing diversity throughout their careers.